Practical Information for Research Performing Organisations on Policy Development, Implementation, Effectiveness and Alignment

Abstract

The number of Open Access (OA) policies that have been adopted by universities, research institutes and research funders has been increasing at a fast pace. The Registry of Open Access Repository Mandates and Policies (ROARMAP) records the existence of 733 OA policies across the world, of which 520 have been adopted by universities and research institutions. In order to understand and contextualise how OA policies are developed and how they can be effectively implemented and aligned, this brief overviews the processes evolving around policy making, policy effectiveness and policy alignment. In particular, it summarises the criteria and elements generally specified in OA policies, it points out some of the relevant steps informing the development, monitoring and revision of OA policies, it outlines what OA policy elements contribute to policy effectiveness, and highlights the benefits in aligning OA policies.